I was already excited for Justin's Valentine's Day party…but when I opened up the card he gave me, I reacted like an audience member on Oprah's Favorite Things episode who just found out she was going on an all expenses paid cruise.

"Are you serious?" I gasped, jumping up and down.

"As cancer," he said.

I punched him in the arm. "Not funny. But this is amazing!" I threw my arms around him. In the card, Justin had written a message that said he was taking me to a bed and breakfast in Vermont the following weekend.

"It's only one night," he said, almost apologetically.

"It's going to be perfect." I gave him a kiss.

"I really just wanted an excuse to have hotel sex with you," he said, pressing his forehead up against mine.

"Totally acceptable," I murmured. We started kissing again, and he slipped his hand under my jeans. He pulled it out abruptly when someone started knocking on his bedroom door.

We smoothed out our clothes and headed out into the living room where Rick, his girlfriend, some of her friends, and Becca and her fiancé were all hanging out. Becca had been oddly warm to me ever since I arrived, and it was throwing me for a damn loop. What had I done to thaw out the ice queen?

As Justin dealt with the logistics of the keg, I perched on the arm of the sofa.

"Josie, here." Becca scooted over to make room for me and patted the seat next to her. I got up and sat down next to my new BFF.

"I just want to tell you something quickly," Becca whispered. I looked around— everyone was deep in conversation, not paying any attention to us.

"What?" I whispered back.

Becca glanced behind her to make sure Justin was still occupied. Satisfied, she leaned in to me again. "Thank you for going with my brother to the hospital."

Um, huh? I was about to ask her what she was talking about when Justin reappeared. Becca pulled away from me quickly and tried to look like we weren't just having a secret conversation about him. What was she talking about? Why did she think I went with Justin to the hospital?
Thankfully, Nina, Ashley, and Luke arrived just then. I leapt up to greet them, and Luke made a beeline for the keg. Fine by me! I wanted to confer with Nina and Ashley privately.

"Happy Valentine's"—Nina started, but I cut her off, and quickly told them what had just happened.

"You should just roll with it," Nina said.

"Um, no she should not," Ashley protested.

"Why not?" Nina asked. "He probably just told his family that to get them off his back—like, he wasn't dealing with this alone. Now, his sister wants to have a sleepover and braid Josie's hair, you and Justin are in a good place. Let bygones be bygones."

"Speaking of being in a good place…" I told them about Justin taking me to Vermont next weekend.

Justin swung by then to say hello to Nina and Ashley. Luke joined the group too, and graced all of us with a sullen hello and then a loud beer burp, which was just lovely.

After the last attendee had left the party, Justin and I flopped on the couch, spent.

"So I need to ask you something," I said.

Justin turned and looked at me, waiting.

"Why did your sister thank me for going to the hospital with you?"

Justin sighed. He ran his fingers through his hair. "I meant to…prepare you. For that."

"Can we have a moment of truth moment right now?"

"Sure."

"I saw that letter from Sloane. The night I was looking for toothpaste in your pantry. Then your mom called me last week. I guess the hospital called them by mistake about your follow up appointment." I exhaled. "Now you go."

"Josie, what everyone doesn't understand is that it's actually normal to have abnormal scans. It's happened to me a few times before. You go in, do them again, they draw some blood, and it's always been fine. But every time I've had to do this, my family freaked out, made the trip up to New York, and completely smothered me. I couldn't deal with it again." He sighed. "When my parents found out what was going on, they wanted to come up here again. So I told them you were going with me."

"I wouldn't have smothered you if you had told me what was going on!" I said.

Justin tilted his head at me. "Josie, every time you get a leg cramp you think it's a blood clot."

"Well, in my head I would have obviously leapt to dramatic and unrealistic conclusions. But I would have kept it to myself!"

"I just…" I stopped, and tried to find my words. "I just wish you felt comfortable enough with me to tell me."

"I will," Justin said. "We'll get there."

"So what now? Am I supposed to keep up this story that I stood by mah man"—I snapped my fingers—"And went to the hospital with him in his time of need?"

Justin grinned. "Well, as you saw tonight, this little fib was like the bitch antidote my sister needed."

"Soooo, yes?"

"I won't tell the truth if you don't," Justin said. He put his arm around me and pulled me close. "I'm really excited to go away with you this week."

I nestled my head into his shoulder. "Me too."

Maybe, possibly, this is one of the best Valentine's Day's I've ever had. I can't wait for our cozy little getaway this week. Now excuse me while I go book a wax in preparation for all the hot hotel sex I'm going to have….